ANDERSON, Calif. (AP) ” California’s largest private landowner is proposing to clear-cut thousands of acres of trees to restore habitat for fishers, a cat-size member of the weasel family.

Sierra Pacific Industries is asking the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to designate 160,000 acres as fisher recovery habitat. The Anderson-based company would clear most of the trees from that area, leaving behind black oaks for the fishers.

Company spokesman Mark Pawlicki says new trees planted in the cleared areas would eventually grow larger than today’s forest.

Environmental groups say Sierra Pacific’s proposal is an excuse to cut more trees.

If the plan is approved, state wildlife officials would reintroduce fishers to Tehama, Butte and Plumas counties.

Read Sierra Pacific’s plan at: http://www.fws.gov/yreka